How Mukesh Khanna’s 'Shaktimaan' Inspired Generations To Drink Milk – Myself Included!

Mukesh Khanna, the legendary actor who rose to fame as India's first superhero, 'Shaktimaan,' reminisced about how his character inspired a generation of children to embrace the power of milk.

While speaking with IANS during the launch of his new song, Khanna highlighted that 'Shaktimaan' wasn't just a superhero but also a "super teacher" who instilled valuable lessons in young minds. However, the news of comeback of the show has been brutally trolled. Could be a generation gap.

"Shaktimaan has two dimensions," Mukesh shared. "He's an action hero, but he's also a teacher. He doesn't only save the day but also teaches children good habits. That's how he became a 'super teacher' in addition to a superhero."

Khanna recalled a memorable interaction from 1997: "A woman came up to me and expressed her gratitude. She said, 'Mukesh ji, I am so thankful to you. My son refused to drink milk, even when we tried everything to make him. But since Shaktimaan told him that drinking milk would make him strong, he now drinks it three times a day!'"

This impact, Khanna noted, reinforced his belief in the power of Shaktimaan's teachings. He shared that the show frequently touched upon everyday values, delivering over 200 powerful messages through Shaktimaan's character, urging children to make positive choices.

Amid ongoing discussions about a possible reboot, Khanna mentioned that Shaktimaan's new avatar might differ from the original. "I might not bring the same chemistry to Shaktimaan in the future, but I've recorded a song to educate children about the revolutionaries of our country, keeping Shaktimaan's spirit alive."

Originally aired on DD National from September 1997 to March 2005, Shaktimaan captured the imaginations of millions. Khanna's iconic dual role as Shaktimaan and his goofy alter ego, photographer Pandit Gangadhar Vidhyadhar Mayadhar Omkarnath Shastri, became an essential part of Indian television history. Alongside Khanna, the show featured actors like Kitu Gidwani (later replaced by Vaishnavi Mahant) as Geeta Vishwas, Shaktimaan's love interest, and Surendra Pal as the villainous Tamraj Kilvish.

Even today, Khanna's portrayal continues to inspire, and I, too, still drink milk-a habit I picked up thanks to Shaktimaan's timeless message: "Drink milk and become powerful!" So, I can't wait to see what this comeback would bring and will it be tweaked according to today's problems? Such as mental health, bad influence of social media, work - life balance, and no to vape. These are some of the problems, according to me, that can be addressed in today's time on this show.